Label machine registering means



March 1964 H. D. MANAS ETAL 3,126,309

LABEL MACHINE REGISTERING MEANS Filed Dec. 22, 1961 6. Sheets-Sheet 1March 24, 1964 H. D. MANAS ETAL 3,126,309

LABEL MACHINE REGISTERING MEANS Filed Dec. 22, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 2HERMAN D- MANAS BY ROY J- MANA ATTORN YS March 24, 1964 H. D. MANAS ETALLABEL MACHINE REGISTERING MEANS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed D60. 22, 1961RETURN TRAVEL OF CARR|AGE-|8O TRAVEL OF CARRIAG m umsou (FIGS-l7, [BANDl0) &SLI DE CAM DWELL/ 34 FORWARD TRAVEL OF CARRIAGE l80 LINEAR MOTION0F CARRIAGE 321 4AM owsu.

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INVENTORS HERMAN D- IANAS BY R Y J HAN S Fig.|3

TTORN March 24, 1964 H. D. MANAS ETAL 3,126,309

LABEL MACHINE REGISTERING MEANS Filed bec. 22, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR HERMAN 0 MA AS BY ROY J-MANAS March 24, 1964 H. D. MANAS ETAL3,

LABEL MACHINE REGISTERING MEANS Filed Dec. 22, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 6Fig.l7 Fig.l8 Lm Fi g. 20

lNVE-NTORS HERMAN D MANAS BY ROY J- MANAS TTORNE United States Patent3,126,309 LABEL MACHINE REGISTERING MEANS Herman D. Manas, RoslynEstates, and Roy J. Manas, Jericho, N.Y., assignors to M.R.M. Company,Inc., Plainview, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 22, 1961,Ser. No. 161,484 3 Claims. (Ci. 156-566) This invention relates tocontinuous motion labeling machines, and more particularly toregistering and orienting mechanisms for effecting accurate positioningof containers at the labeling station of the machine with re spect to alabel-applying mechanism at said station, thus insuring uniformapplication of labels to the containers at selected portions of thelatter. This application is a continuation-in-part of our co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 77,441, filed December 21, 1960, now abandoned.

In conventional continuous motion labeling machines containers are movedsuccessively by a conveyor to a label-applying station whereatappropriate label-applying mechanism applies a label to a surface of thecontainer. In transit on the conveyor to the label-applying station, thecontainers are usually fed past a spacing mechanism such as a rotatingfeed worm which serves to space the containers approximately at regularintervals on the conveyor. The intended action of the spacing mechanismis to so position the successive containers that each should arrive atthe label-applying station in a proper location on the conveyor topermit application to a selected surface portion of each container of alabel. In practice, however, the spacing effected by the spacingmechanism is not completely accurate, and, moreover, requires specialdesign of the feed worm for each different type of container to belabeled. The inaccurate spacing results in inaccuracy of the positioningof labels applied to the containers and unsightly lack of uniformity.Moreover, in the case of containers having, for example, oval orelliptical sections, their major ellipse axes are usually shifted to askew position relative to the direction of travel of the conveyor duringtransit through the spacing mechanism. This skew position persists onthe conveyor beyond the spacing mechanism. Unless corrected byorientation of the major ellipse axes of the container from the skewposition to a position parallel with the travel direction of theconveyor prior to arrival of the containers at the label-applyingstation the askew containerswill be improperly labeled with the labelsapplied thereto unsymmetrically and in unsightly positions.

Objects and features of the present invention are the provision of aregistering and orienting mechanism or device that may be readilyinstalled in existing as Well as new machines for the purposes ofinsuring uniform and accurate registration and orientation of spacedcontainers on the conveyor with respect to the label-applying station sothat uniform labeling of successive containers on precisely selectedsurface portions thereof will be effected.

Other objects and features of the invention are the provision of acontainer engaging mechanism operable on the approximately regularlyspaced containers on the conveyor after they leave the spacing mechanismand in advance of their arrival at the labeling station to correct anyskew condition of such containers and to shift them on the conveyor toplace them in accurate registry thereon so that when each arrives at thelabel-applying station on the conveyor it is in an accurate position toinsure application to it of a label at a precisely selected surfaceportion thereof.

Additional objects and features of the invention are the provision ofsimple and effective mechanism for 3,126,309 Patented Mar. 24, 1964effecting the desired container registration and orientation that may beinstalled at relatively low cost.

Other objects and features of the invention are the provision ofregistering and orienting mechanism that may be readily adapted for usewith differing types of containers and which will eliminate thenecessity for redesign of the usual spacing mechanism for each differenttype of container.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one type of container to which labelsare to be applied;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of another type of such container;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of still another type of such container;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a container of FIG- URE 3 showing alabel properly applied in a symmetrical position;

FIGURE 5 is a similar sectional view of a container section taken alongline 55 of FIGURE 3, showing a label improperly applied in anunsymmetrical position;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view in the region of the labeling station of acontinuous motion labeling machine to which the mechanism of thisinvention has been applied;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the mechanism;

FIGURE 8 is a view taken along line 8--8 of FIG- URE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a view taken along line 9--9 of FIG- URE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along line 1t)--10 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 12-12 ofFIGURE 7;

FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the one position ofcontainer registering operation of the device of this invention;

FIGURE 14 is a similar diagrammatic view illustrating a succeedingposition;

FIGURE 15 is a similar diagrammatic view illustrating the nextsuccessive position;

FIGURE 16 is a diagrammatic illustration of a complete cycle of motionof the device of this invention;

FIGURE 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one position of containerregistering operation of the device of this invention when used with adifferent type of con tainer;

FIGURE 18 is a similar diagrammatic View illustrating a succeedingposition of the arrangement of FIGURE 17;

FIGURE 19 is a similar diagrammatic view of the next successive positionof the arrangement of FIGURE 17 and FIGURE 20 is a perspective view ofanother form of container-engaging jaw that may be utilized with thedevice of this invention for still a differently shaped container.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 illustraterectangularly-sectioned, cylindrically-sectioned and oval-sectionedcontainers 10a, 10b and that are intended to have labels L L and Lapplied thereto at the labeling station of a labeling machine.Containers of other shapes likewise may be labeled.

The labeling machine M, to which the registering and orienting mechanismof this invention is applied may, for example, be of the continuousmotion type described in our US. Patent No. 2,967,636, dated January 10,1961. It is contemplated, however, that it may be used with a othertypes of labeling machines wherein containers are fed continuously by aconveyor to a labeling station whereat labels are applied and adhered tosuccessive containers as they arrive at said station.

In a machine such as that of said patent, the upper horizontal flight 11of a continuously moving conveyor has containers, for example, 13::positioned thereon in any suitable way in advance of a spacing device.The conveyor flight 11 in its travel toward the labeling station, asindicated by the arrow, first moves the containers positioned thereonthrough the spacing device such as a rotary Worm 12 and between thelatter and a guide plate 13. The worm 12 serves to separate and spacethe successive containers c approximately uniformly on the conveyorflight 11, so that after they leave the worm 12 still guided by plate 13they will successively arrive at the labeling station I of the machineat approximately regular intervals. This spacing worm 12 is ofconventional type. It is usually designed to operate with specificallydimensioned and shaped containers to produce the desired spacing betweenthem. However, the spacing achieved by this worm 12 is at bestapproximate. Frequently, containers are found not quite properlypositioned on the conveyor 11 when they arrive at the label-applyingstation I. In consequence, labels applied to such containers by thelabel-applying mechanism at said station become adhered to improperlocations on the container surface, being, for example, adheredunsymmetrically offcenter as seen in dotted outline in FIGURE 1, oraskew as seen in dotted outline in FIGURE 2, or unsymmetricallyoff-center and askew as illustrated in dotted outline in FIGURE 3.

In the case of oval or elliptically sectioned containers 100, thecontainers are found usually to leave the rotary worm 12 in a positionsuch that their major ellipse axes a-a are in skew positions, i.e. at anangle with their direction of travel on the conveyor rather thanparallel therewith. If the containers 100 are left in this skewcondition, labels are improperly applied to them at the label-applyingstation. It is important, therefore, that this misalignment or skew ofellipse axes be corrected before the containers are labeled. v

It is important, moreover, that this misalignment or skew condition ofthe major axis of the ellipse be corrected for each container after itleaves the spacing worm 12 and before it reaches the label-applyingstation I by orientation of its axis a-a to a condition parallel withthe path of travel. In addition, to correction of this skew condition,it is absolutely essential that each container delivered to the labelingstation by the conveyor arrive there in precisely registered position onthe conveyor so that the label-applying device which delivers the labelsto the label-applying station will accurately apply a label to eachsucceeding container arriving at that station in a precisely selectedsurface position which is desirably a centered position of symmetry onthe surface of the container. Since the label-applying device, as wellas the conveyor 11 carrying the containers are in continuous motion atrelatively high speeds, it is necessary to commence orientation of theskew condition of the axes of the containers and to secure their properregistry positions on the conveyor after they leave the spacing worm 12but in advance of the arrival of the successive containers at thelabel-applying station. This timing is necessary because the rapidapplication of the labels to the containers at the label-applyingstation does not permit a sufficient time interval at the labelingstation to impart any corrective movements to the container there. Anyattempt to make corrective movements at this station merely aggravatesthe improper adhesion of the label to an improper surface of thecontainer and in an undesirable unsymmetrical position.

In the embodiment shown, the containers which pass through the spacingworm 12 are guided in transit through and beyond the latter by a guideplate 13 which extends parallel with the direction of motion of theconveyor 11 and beyond the exit end of the worm 12, terminating justshort of the label-applying station I.

The orienting and registering mechanism 14 of this invention ispositioned in proximity to the label-applying station I at one side ofthe conveyor 11 and opposite to the label-applying mechanism L of themachine. The latter may be of the turret type described in our aforesaidPatent 2,967,636 or it may be any other conventional label-applyingdevice which successively delivers and at least partially appliesadhesive-bearing labels to the successive containers arriving at thelabel-applying station I.

In the embodiment shown, the orienting and register ing mechanism 14comprises a slide or carriage 15. This carriage 15 is supported by apair of horizontally disposed guide bars 16 and 17 which are carried byoppositely-located spaced-apart, fixed end supports 18 and 19. The guidebars 16 and 17 extend in parallelism with the direction of travel of theconveyor 11 (denoted by arrow A) so that the slide member or carriage 15may be moved reciprocally in a path parallel with the direction oftravel of the conveyor 11. Reciprocal motion of the carriage 15 on itsguide bars 16 and 17 is effected by a crank lever 20 pivotally connectedat one end 21 to a projection 15' of the carriage 15 and pivotallyconnected at its other end 22 to a crankpin 23 eccentrically mounted ona crank disc 24. This disc 24 is, in turn, pinned or otherwise fixed toa vertically rotatable drive shaft 25. The shaft 25 is rotated by theusual drive mechanism (not shown) of the labeling machine. This rotationcauses corresponding rotation of the disc 24 which in turn, through theagency of the crank lever 20 reciprocally moves the carriage 15 on theguide bars 16 and 17.

The shaft 25 is suitably supported by the fixed bearing block 26carried, for example, by the horizontal table 27 of the machine M. Thistable-top 27 also serves as the carrier for the fixed end supports 18and 19 of guide bars 16 and 17. The end supports 18 and 19 are locatedon the table-top 27 in the region of the labeling station I, and thespacing between them is such that the carriage or slide member 15 ismovable in its to and fro strokes on guide bars 16 and 17 from aposition in advance of the labeling station I to a position beyond saidlabeling station and vice-versa during each rotation of crank disc 24.

A slide member or block 28 is provided. This slide block 28 is guidedlysupported on guide rods 29 which latter are secured to the first slidemember or carriage 15 so as to extend transversely perpendicular to thedirection of the guide bars 16 and 17. The slide block 28 is movablereciprocally on its guide rods 29 in a path perpendicular to thereciprocal path of movement of the first slide member 15. In otherwords, slide block 28 is movable toward and away from the guide plate 13transversely to the path of travel of the conveyor 11.

The reciprocal motion of the slide block 28 is given to it duringperiods of the reciprocal motion of the carriage 15. In order to effectthis reciprocal motion of the slide block 28, a rotary disc cam 30 ispinned or otherwise fixed to the vertical shaft 25 for rotation with itand crank disc 24. This disc cam 30 has high and low surfaces 31 and 32shown in the development in FIGURE 16; These high and low surfaces haveflat dwell periods. The said high and low surfaces are joinedrespectively by the rising slanting surface '33 and the descendingslanting surface 34 for purposes presently to be described. The slant ofsurface 34 is more acute than that of surface 33. A cam follower roller35 is adapted to ride on the surfaces 31, 32, 33 and 34 of the rotary'disc cam 30 during its rotation.

This cam follower roller 35 is mounted on one end of a crank arm 36whose other end is secured to the guide bar 16, which latter isrotatable in its end supports 18 and 19. A pair of spaced-apart levers37 and 38 are adjustably secured to the support rod 16, these levers 37and 38 being joined by a cross-bar 39 which may swivel with them. Thiscross-bar 39, in turn, engages a roller 40 which depends from and issupported by the slide member or block 28 (see FIGS. 9, and 11). Theroller 49 is biased into engagement with the cross-bar 39 as by acompression spring 41., located in an appropriate space or recess 42 inthe carriage 15. One end of the spring 41 engages a fixed plate 43secured to the carriage and the other end of the spring 41 engages a pin44 depending from and extending downwardly from the slide member orblock =28 through a slot 45 in carriage 15 into the spring space orrecess 4-2. Thus, as seen in FIGURES 9 and 10, the compression spring 41tends always to bias the pin 44 and consequently, the slide member orblock '28 rightwardly yieldingly in a direction toward the guide plate1.3 of the machine M. The biasing action of the compression spring 41 isalso transmitted via roller 40, cross-bar 39, levers 37 and 3S,rotatable guide bar 16 and crank 36 to the cam follower roller 35 sothat the 'latter always rides on the surfaces 31, 32, 33 and 34 of thecam 39. The biasing action of spring 41 and driven rotation of cam 38thus serve to reciprocate the slide block 28.

The slide block 23 is provided in its upper surface with a guideway 46which extends parallelly with the guide rods 29. A support bar 47,provided with a longitudinal slot 43, is adjustably mounted on the slideblock 28 in the guideway 4-6. Set screws 49 serve to position the bar 47in any desired adjusted location relative to the slide block 23 withinthe limits permitted by the slot 48.

An angle bar 50 (FIGURE 9) is secured as by bolts 51 to the bar t? atits outermost end which directly faces the guide 13. The vertical leg 52of the angle bar 50 serves to mount a jaw member 53 secured as by bolts54 to said vertical leg 52. This jaw member 53 includes upper and lowerparallel horizontally extending flanges 55. The forward outward endedges 56 of these flanges 55 as seen in FIGURE 7 are ellipticallyconcave so that they are in effect substantially complemental in shapeto the elliptical or oval contour of the container 10s with which theyare to engage as will be presently described. These edges terminate inrounded noses 57. Vertical spacing between the pair of flanges 55 is.such that they will respectively engage the container 10c adjacent itsneck and adjacent its bottom. More flanges 55 at the other locations maybe provided if desired, or only one flange 55 may be used if preferable.

In operation, assuming that containers of the type 160 (FIGURE 3) are tobe labeled, the bar 47 is adjusted on the slide 28 by the set screws 49depending on container thickness so that the flanges 55 of the jawmember 53,

as seen in FIGURE 13, lie clear of the traveling con-v tainers We asthey emerge successively on conveyor 11 from the spacing mechanism 12.The cam disc 30 is positioned on shaft 25 so that cam follower roller 35lies on high surface 31 thereof just in advance of downwardly slantingsurface 33. The slide block 28 then lies at its extreme rearwardposition on its guide rods 29,,i.e. remote from guide 1-3 and spring 41is compressed. At this time, too, the crank disc 24 is positioned on theshaft 25 so that its crank pin 23 is in such a position that.

its crank pin 23 lies in its extreme right-hand position as seen inFIGURE 13. In consequence through the agency of the crank lever 20, thecarriage 15 lies at its extreme right stroke position on the guide bars16 and 17 as seen in FIGURE 13, its nearest position to thecontainersleaving the spacing worm 12. With these adjustments, it,

The machine is then started. As soon as it starts to operate, the crankdisc begins to rotate counterclockwise as seen in FIGURE 13. This startsto move the first slide 15 leftwardly from its extreme right positionshown in FIGURE 13 forwardly in the same direction of travel as theconveyor 11 and at synchronous speed therewith. Similarly, the camroller 35 moves from its high surface 31 downwardly along the slopingportion 33 to its low portion 32. The compressed spring 41 is thus freedto expand. In such expansion, it moves the slide block 28 forwardly onits guide rods 29 toward the full-line position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10toward container as seen in FIGURE 13 so that the concave surfaces 56 ofjaw 53 move toward engagement with said elliptical con tainer 100. Asthe jaw 53 first moves toward gripping engagement with the container10c, one or the other of the rounded noses 57 of the concave surfaces 56engage the container and eifect a relative shift of said container liteon the conveyor 11 either forwardly or backwardly relative to thedirection of movement of the conveyor or thus accurately registering thecontainer in a centralized position in the jaw 53. The jaw 53 once itssurface 56 engages the container then further presses the ellipticalcontainer against the guide 13 with suflicient force to orient or alignthe major axis aa of the elliptical container 10c parallel with thedirection of travel of the conveyor, as seen in FIGURE 14. Thecompression spring 41 is, of course, yieldable. Thus, any variations incontainer thickness of successive containers are absorbed by the spring41. Containers will not be broken while being pressed against said guideplate by jaw 53 under action of this spring. The spring 41, among itsother functions, serves thus as a shock absorber. The alignment ororientation and registration shift of the container ltbc, as is clearfrom FIGURE 14, occurs prior to the arrival of the gripped container atthe label-applying station I.

During this described action, the first slide 15 con tinues to moveforwardly leftwardly as seen in FIGURE 14 at synchronous speed with andin the said direction as the conveyor 11 under the drive action of therotating crank disc 24. Also, during this period, the cam roller 35remains on a dwell portion of the lower cam surface 32 so that thespring 41 continues to bias the jaw 53 against the engaged container 100and pressed against guide 13 and holds the container firmly in itsoriented and registered condition on the conveyor 11. In this condition,continued rotation of the crank disc 24 in the counterclockwisedirection eventually through corresponding movement leftwardly(forwardly in the same direction as conveyor 11) of the carriage 15eventually brings the gripped container 10c to the labeling station I asis seen in FIGURE 15. Here, it will be noted, the gripped container lilorides off the guide 13 just at the moment the leading edge of a label Lfrom the label-applying device L arrivesat the station so that theleading edge of the label ispressed against and adhered to a properlocation on the surface of the container while the latter is backed-upby the jaw 53. The registering and orienting effect of the concavesurfaces 56 of the jaw 53 is such that each succeeding container 10cheld thereby after orientation and registrational shift arrives at thelabelapplying station in exact registry and properly oriented withrespect to the fed labels delivered by the label-applying device L sothat each label is exactly applied to each succeeding container inexactly the'cor'rect selected position on the container surface. Anyinexact registry position of the container on the conveyor prior to itsarrival 'at the label-applying station or any improper orientation ofits major ellipse axis has been corrected by the application of the jaw53 to the container L in advance of its arrival at that point.

As the conveyor 11 carries the labelled container beyond the labelapplying station, the jaw 53 moves with it for a short distance in thesame direction as the conveyor 11. 7 It then is retracted transverselyrapidly relativethe movement of conveyor 11 to a release position. Thisretractive movement is effected because the cam follower roller 35 ridesupwardly on the steeply sloping surface 34 of cam 30 onto its high dwellsurface 31. This effects retractive motion of slide block 28 because ofthe rotation then imparted to the crank 36 by cam roller 35. Thisretractive motion is in opposition to the spring 41 which again becomescompressed. The labeled container 100 which has been released by jaw 53is now free to move further with the conveyor 11 for passage, forexample, between ironing belts 58 or other suitable mechanism (FIG. URE6) which may be necessary to complete the adhesion of the label to thecontainer c. The registering and orienting action of the doublereciprocal motion of jaw 53 parallel with and transversely of theconveyor 10 always insures exact registration and orientation of eachsucceeding container 100 leaving the spacing mechanism 12 with the labelapplying mechanism when it arrives at the label applying station I.

If containers of different dimensions and shapes are to be labeled, thejaw 53 is replaced by another jaw of appropriate shape. For example, ifrectangularly sectioned containers 19a (FIGURE 1) are to be labeled, thejaw 53 is replaced by a jaw 60 (FIGURES 17, 18 and 19) which performssimilar registering and orienting operations on containers ofrectangular section. The jaw member 60 includes pairs of tines 61 whichdefine a rectangular space 62 which is complemental in shape to arectangularly sectioned container 10a and into which space the latter isadapted to be received during operation of the device. The pairs oftines 61 are beveled at their forward ends 63 with the bevels facingeach other. The spacing between pairs of tines 61 is such as to receivebetween them each container 10a which is to be registered and properlyaligned with the label-applying mechanism L at the station I.

The same preliminary adjustments of the mechanism 14 now carrying thejaw 60 are made as described above with respect to the jaw 53. Afterthese adjustments have been made, the machine is started. The conveyor11 moves the containers 1011 through the spacing worm 12. As they issuefrom the spacing worm, the movable jaw 60 lies approximately at theextreme right-hand limiting position and in an extremely retractedposition away from the guide 13. Under action of crank disc 24 itcommences its travel forwardly in the same direction as the conveyor 11and at synchronous speed therewith. At the same time, as the camfollower roller 35 rides off the high surface 31 of cam 30 onto its lowsurface 32, it releases the compression spring 41 causing the latter todrive the slide block member 28 forwardly toward the guide plate 13transversely of the direction of conveyor travel. The container 10a,leaving the spacing worm, then lies on the conveyor 11 in a position tobe engaged by one of the tapered surfaces 63 of the tines 61. As aresult, the transverse motion of the jaw 60 toward the guide plate 13causes the surfaces 63 to shift the container on the conveyor 11 and toguide the container into the space 62 between the two tines 61 as isillustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19. At the same time, the jaw 60 underaction of the crank disc 24 is moved parallelly with the conveyor 11 atthe same speed as the latter and toward the label-applying station I.The guiding effect of the tapered surfaces 63 of tines 61 during theaforedescribed motion of the jaw 60 also effects a relative shift of thecontainer 10a on the conveyor 11 so that by the time the engagedcontainer 10a arrives at the label-applying station, its vertical centerline has been shifted to lie in exact registry with the center line ofthe label-applying device L as seen in FIGURE 19. Thus, the label Lapplied to the container by the labeling mechanism L is exactlypositioned in the center of the container. As the conveyor 11 carriesthe labelled container beyond the label-applying station, the jaw 61moves with it for a short distance in the same direction as the conveyor11 and then is rapidly retracted transversely to a released positionrelative to the labeled container. This retractive movement is effecteddue to the fact that the cam follower roller 35 rides upwardly on thesteeply sloping surface 34 of cam 30 onto its high surface 31. Thisinitiates retractive movement of the slide block 28 because of therotation then imparted to the crank 36 by cam roller 35. This retractivemovement is opposite to the spring 41 which again becomes compressed.The container 19a which has been released by the movable jaw 60 is nowfree to move further with the conveyor 11 for passage between ironingbelts 58 or other suitable mechanism which may be necessary to completethe adhesion of the label to the container 10a. The registering actionof the double reciprocal motion of the jaw 60 thus always insures exactregistration of each succeeding container 10a with the label-applyingmechanism of the label-applying station I.

If containers of cylindrical section are to be labeled, the jaw 60 isreplaced by a jaw 7 0 shown in FIG. 20. This jaw performs similarregistering operations on containers of cylindrical shape. Of course, ifcontainers of other sections and shapes are to be labeled, it is simplynecessary to replace the jaws 53, 60 or 7 t) by other appropriatelyshaped jaws. In each instance, the double reciprocal motion imparted tothe jaws always insures exact registration of each succeeding containerwith the label-applying mechanism L at the label-applying station I.This insures application of a label to the container always at aprecisely selected surface portion thereof.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described andshown, variations in structural detail within the scope of the appendedclaims are possible and are contemplated. There is no intention,therefore, of limitation to the exact disclosure herein made.

What is claimed is:

1. In a continuous motion labeling machine having a labeling station andmeans thereat to apply labels to suecessive containers moved thereto, acontinuously movable conveyor for the containers, spacing means toimpart approximately uniform spacing to the containers on the conveyorin advance of said labeling station, a guide for spaced containers onthe conveyor extending parallel with the direction of conveyor motion, ajaw movable toward said guide and away therefrom for engaging in itstoward motion successively the spaced container on said conveyor andpressing each against said guide for orienting each and placing it in anaccurate position on said conveyor in advance of its arrival at saidlabel-applying station to insure application thereto at thelabel-applying station of a label in a precise selected location on asurface of the container, a slide block for supporting said jaw, supportmeans for said slide block to permit sliding movement thereofreciprocally and transversely of the direction of motion of saidconveyor, a carriage for said support means movable slidably andreciprocally in a path parallel with the direction of motion of saidconveyor, crank means for reciprocally moving said carriage, a pinmember depending from said slide block, a compression spring mounted insaid carriage and engaging said pin member to bias said slide block onits support means in a direction toward said guide, a roller dependingfrom said slide block, a swingable bar engaging said roller, and cammeans for swinging said bar to move the roller and with it said slideblock in a direction away from such guide.

2. In a continuous motion labeling machine having a labeling station andmeans thereat to apply labels to successive containers moved thereto, acontinuously movable conveyor for the containers, spacing means toimpart approximately uniform spacing to the containers on the conveyorin advance of said labeling station, a guide for spaced containers onthe conveyor extending parallel with the direction of conveyor motion, ajaw movable toward said guide and away therefrom for engaging in itstoward motion successively the spaced container on said conveyor andpressing each against said guide for orienting each and placing it in anaccurate position on said conveyor in advance of its arrival at saidlabel-applying station to insure application thereto at thelabel-applying station of a label in a precise selected location on asurface of the container, a slide block for supporting said jaw, supportmeans for said slide block to permit sliding movement thereofreciprocally and transversely of the direction of motion of saidconveyor, a carriage for said support means movable slidably andreciprocally in a path parallel with the direction of motion of saidconveyor, crank means for reciprocally moving said carriage, a pinmember depending from said slide block, a compression spring mounted insaid carriage and engaging said pin member to bias said slide block onits support means in a direction toward said guide, a roller dependingfrom said slide block, a swingable bar engaging said roller, cam meansfor swinging said bar to move the roller and with it said slide block ina direction away from such guide, and common means for driving saidcrank means and said cam means.

3. In a continuous motion labeling machine having a labeling station andmeans thereat to apply labels to successive containers moved thereto, acontinuously movable conveyor for the containers, spacing means toimpart approximately uniform spacing to the containers on the conveyorin advance of said labeling station, a guide for spaced containers onthe conveyor extending parallel with the direction of conveyor motion, ajaw movable toward said guide and away therefrom for engaging in itstoward motion successively the spaced container on said conveyor andpressing each against said guide for orienting such and placing it in anaccurate position on said conveyor in advance of its arrival at saidlabel applying station to insure application thereto at thelabel-applying station of a label in a precise selected location on asurface of the container, a slide block for supporting said jaw, supportmeans for said slide block to permit sliding movement thereofreciprocally and transversely of the direction of motion of saidconveyor, a carrige for said support means movable slidably andreciprocally in a path parallel with the direction of motion of saidconveyor, crank means for reciprocally moving said carriage, a pinmember depending from said slide block, a compression spring mounted insaid carriage and engaging said pin member to bias said slide block onits support means in a direction toward said guide, a roller dependingfrom said slide block, a swingable bar engaging said roller, lever meansfor supporting said swingable bar, a crank arm coupled to said levermeans, a cam follower secured to said crank arm, a rotary surface camengaged by said cam follower to swing said crank arm, said lever meansand said roller engaged bar and thus move said guide in opposition tosaid compression spring, and common means for driving said crank meansand said rotary surface cam.

Powell Aug. 10, 1937 Carter May 29, 1962

1. IN A CONTINUOUS MOTION LABELING MACHINE HAVING A LABELING STATION ANDMEANS THEREAT TO APPLY LABELS TO SUCCESSIVE CONTAINERS MOVED THERETO, ACONTINUOUSLY MOVABLE CONVEYOR FOR THE CONTAINERS, SPACING MEANS TOIMPART APPROXIMATELY UNIFORM SPACING TO THE CONTAINERS ON THE CONVEYORIN ADVANCE OF SAID LABELING STATION, A GUIDE FOR SPACED CONTAINERS ONTHE CONVEYOR EXTENDING PARALLEL WITH THE DIRECTION OF CONVEYOR MOTION, AJAW MOVABLE TOWARD SAID GUIDE AND AWAY THEREFROM FOR ENGAGING IN ITSTOWARD MOTION SUCCESSIVELY THE SPACED CONTAINER ON SAID CONVEYOR ANDPRESSING EACH AGAINST SAID GUIDE FOR ORIENTING EACH AND PLACING IT IN ANACCURATE POSITION ON SAID CONVEYOR IN ADVANCE OF ITS ARRIVAL AT SAIDLABEL-APPLYING STATION TO INSURE APPLICATION THERETO AT THELABEL-APPLYING STATION OF A LABEL IN A PRECISE SELECTED LOCATION ON ASURFACE OF THE CONTAINER, A SLIDE BLOCK FOR SUPPORTING SAID JAW, SUPPORTMEANS FOR SAID SLIDE BLOCK TO PERMIT SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREOFRECIPROCALLY AND TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF MOTION OF SAIDCONVEYOR, A CARRIAGE FOR SAID SUPPORT MEANS MOVABLE SLIDABLY ANDRECIPROCALLY IN A PATH PARALLEL WITH THE DIRECTION OF MOTION OF SAIDCONVEYOR, CRANK MEANS FOR RECIPROCALLY MOVING SAID CARRIAGE, A PINMEMBER DEPENDING FROM SAID SLIDE BLOCK, A COMPRESSION SPRING MOUNTED INSAID BLOCK, A COMPRESSION SPRING MOUNTED IN SAID CARRIAGE AND ENGAGINGSAID PIN MEMBER TO BIAS SAID SLIDE BLOCK ON ITS SUPPORT MEANS IN ADIRECTION TOWARD SAID GUIDE, A ROLLER DEPENDING FROM SAID SLIDE BLOCK, ASWINGABLE BAR ENGAGING SAID ROLLER, AND CAM MEANS FOR SWINGING SAID BARTO MOVE THE ROLLER AND WITH IT SAID BLOCK IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SUCHGUIDE.